Pouring spout and container opener



R. A. CASPER POURING SPDUT AND CONTAINER OPENER April 8, 1941.

Filed March 15, 1940 22 INVENTOR.

.Euoam A. C- s slz BY%'% ATTORNEY.

Eli-.7-

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 Panama sroo'r AND cos'ramsa ornssa Rudolf A. Casper, San Francisco, Cali1'., assignor of one-half to Carl Assmann, San Francisco,

Calif.

Application March 15, 1940, Serial No. 324,132

3Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to means for facilitating the removal of the contents of a container, and more particularly relates to a dispenser adapted to be removably attached to a can or the like for affording the withdrawal of fluid therefromin a regular, uniform stream A primary object of my invention is to provide an improved spout and container opener of the indicated nature which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which is positive in its pouring action.

Another object of my improvement is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which is relatively easy to apply to a can as well as to remove therefrom for application to another or other cans at will.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pouring spout and can opener which is especially characterized by the provisions of means therein affording a liquidtight joint between the container and the pouring spout.

Another object of my improvement is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which is furnished with a unique puncturing member for constraining the spout against movement relative to the can after attachment thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved pouring spout and container opener which can be readily cleaned and sterilized.

Another object of my present improvement is toprovide a device of the indicated nature having but a single outlet for the dispensing of the contents of a container yet affording an air vent for facilitating the discharge of the contents.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the preferred and modified embodiment of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood that the showings are for purposes of explanation and exemplification only as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawing: V

Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the improvement as applied to operative position on a liquid containing can.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the section line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view-of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Flgure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the modiflcation shown in Figure 5.

In its preferred form, the pouring spout and I container opener of my invention preferably comprises a body having a bottom with an opening therein, an interior wall dividing the open bottom into a liquid discharge chamber and an air inlet chamber; said wall having an opening therethrough, a puncturing member depending from said wall below the bottom of said body and adapted to pierce a container to provide an opening therein communicating with said chambers, together with a spout on said body defining a pamage which communicates at one end with the atmosphere and at the other end with said air inlet chamber through said opening in said wall as well as with said liquid discharge chamher, and a dividing element projecting from said well into said passage to provide an inlet path for air from outside of said spout through the opening in said wall as well as a path for the egress of the contents of the container thereby affording uniform, continuous movement of the contents out of said spout when the container is tilted.

While the device of my improvement is adaptable for use in conjunction with'containers of various sizes for pouring oil therefrom various types of liquids, such as with cans of fruit or vegetables for pouring off the juices thereof or with beer cans for removing the contents thereof slowly, or for pouring off salad oil in a slow steady stream in making mayonnaise, the device is espe cially suitable for use in dispensing evaporated or condensed milk from cans and I have, accordingly, illustrated the device and shall hereinafter describe the same in that environment.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have depicted a preferred embodiment of the improved pouring spout and container opener as applied to the top of a can ll containing a liquid l2, such as milk or fruit juice, or syrup. The device preferably comprises a body I3 having a relativelynvide opening 14 in the base or bottom thereof formed by a recess I5. It is to be understood that the body H can be cast or molded from any suitable metal or a plastic material, such as a phenolic condensate, which is chemically inert to the contents of the container in conjunction with which the device is to be used. Preferably, although not necessarily, the bottom of the body I 3 is termed to an elliptical shape and with a depending ila'nge l'l thereon having a flat lower fastening means, such as cement or glue.

surface for engaging the fiat surface of the lid or top of a container, as shown, and I preferably .cut the periphery of the flange II on a bias, as,

indicated by the reference numeral l8, in order to firmly and snugly hold and receive a washer or gasket I!) which has its inner surface cut on a complementary bias to the periphery of the flange H. The gasket or washer l9 can be fabri- 'cated from suitable material, such as rubber,

that is chemically inert to liquid contained in the can and in order to 'provide'a liquid-tight seal at the juncture of the can and the body;

With this construction of flange l1 and gasket IS, the latter can readily be slipped over as well as removed from the flange at will for cleansing or replacement thereof. The upper portion of the body I3 preferably is curved or recessed on its opposite sides .to provide finger grips for facilitating the turning of the body when attaching or removing the same from a container.

In accordance with my improvement, I provide an interior wall 2| in the body |3 which can shown, to divide the open bottom of the body 3 into a liquid discharge chamber and an air inlet chamber. Integral with the wall 2|, or rigidly fastened thereto by suitable fastening means, is a container puncturing member 23 which preferably is fabricated of a hard metal,

such as steel, and which preferably is formed to the shape shown in the drawing. In applying the device to a can, the puncturing member takes the, position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing and thedevice is pressed downwardly to inject the puncturing member into the top or lid of the can. Thereafter, and prior to seating the bottom of the device upon the upper surface of th lid,

the-device is given a quarter-turn and brought to rest in the position depicted in Figure 1 of the drawing. As shown, the device is fitted to the can at one side of the center of the lid in order that the spout of the device extends slightly beyond the rim of the lid.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, the puncturing member 23 of my improved device preferably includes an integral shank 24 that is cast with a piercing blade 26 and that is provided with an enlarged upper portion, preferably of circular cross-section, and with a lower tapering portion 21 that merges with a laterally rounded or curved top 28, of the shoulder 29 of the piercing blade. The enlarged portion of the shank 24 of the puncturing member is especially advantageousin that it firmly engages the turned under portions of the lid of the can and constrains the device against lateral movement or displacement. It is clear that upon initially injecting the puncturing member 23 into the lid of the can, the material of the lid is turned under at the opposite sides of the puncturing member, and upon giving the device a quarterturn the shoulder of the puncturing member rides upon the turned under portions of the lid and further turns the material under. This action of the puncturing member permits the shank 24 thereof, as the member 23 is pressed into position, to engage the turned under portions of the lid and firmly seat the device with the enlarged portion of the shank bearing against the turned under portions laterally to thus constrain the device against movement. It is clear that this puncturing actioniorms the opening 30, see

Figure 1 of the drawing, in the top of the can from which the contents thereof can be removed as hereinafter described. The piercing blade 23 of the puncturing member 23 preferably is formed relatively narrow and is provided with cutting edges 3| and 32 on opposite sides thereof extending from the pointed tip 33 to the shoulder 23. It is to be'especially noted that I bevel the puncturing member 23 at the junctures of the cutting edges and the shoulder, as designated by the reference numeral 34, in order that the device may readily be withdrawn from the can, when desired; the beveled portions 34 of shoulder 23 engaging and riding upon the under turned portions of the lid of the can to slide easily thereover when withdrawing the puncturing member from the interior of the can. It also'is to be noted that the vertical distance between the curved or rounded top of the shoulder 29 of the puncturing member and the top surface of the lid is slightly greater than the thickness of the material of which the lid is made so that the enlarged or thickened portion of the shank 24 of the puncturing member effectively grips the turned under portion of the lid with the device in operative position on the can.

In accordance with the invention, I provide the body I3 with a relatively short spout 36 at one side thereof, the spout being hollow and defining a curved passage 31 which serves not only as a. means for admitting a sufficient amount of air for facilitating the dispensing of the liquid but also as a means for the discharge of the desired amount of the liquid. As shown, the passage 37 communicates at its one end with the atmos phere at the outlet 38 of the spout and at its other end with both the liquid discharge chamber and the air inlet chamber, and of course also with the interior of the can through opening 30 that is formed in the lid by the puncturing member. The air vent of the device is effectively provided by mounting a baille strip 39 on the interior wall 2| of the body and projecting the baflle strip into the passage substantially halfof the length thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The baiile 39 can be formed integral with the interior wall 2| or can be a separate part and fastened to the wall or other portion of the inner body with any suitable fastening means, and preferably is curved slightly at its outer end, as at 40, to prevent returning milk from entering the air path and thereby reducing the likelihood of the milk becoming sour. The baflle 39 divides the lower portion of the passage 31 substantially in half to provide not only a path for the discharge of the contents of the container but also a path for air entering the outlet 38 of the spout 36, the air passing through the opening 22 in the wall 2| into the air inlet chamber formed by the dividing wall 2|, and thence into the interior of the container through opening 30 formed therein. It is of course understood that the outlet 33 of the spout normally is closed with a stopper, not shown, and that when it is desired to pour off a portion of the liquid in the can the stopper is removed and the'can tilted slightly. The entering air facilitates the egress of the liquid and once the movement of the-liquid is started the same will be dispensed from the spout 36 in a steady, non-pulsating stream.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing, I have illustrated a modified embodiment of the improvement. In this modification, the body of the derice is formed as a single casting including the baffle 39 that divides the passage 31, the baille extending from a transverse inner wall 2| that is formed with two spaced slots or channels for the reception of a pair of spaced prongs 4i carried by the shank 24 of the puncturing member 23.. lifter the prongs of the puncturing member are disposed in the channels provided in the wall 2| of the body, the member 23 can be rigidly fastened in position by suitable fastening means such as cement. In all other respects, the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing is similar to the preferred embodiment of the improvement depicted in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

it is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

it claim:

i. A pouring spout and container opener comprising a body having an open bottom, an interior wall dividing said open bottom into a liquid discharge chamber and an air inlet chamber; said Wall having an opening therethrough, a spout on said body having a passage therein communicating at its one end with the atmosphere and at its other end not only with said liquid discharge chamber but also with said air, inlet chamber through said opening in said wall, a baiiie strip extending from said wall into said passage to diride the same into an air path and a path for liquid, and a container puncturing member depending from said wall; said puncturing member being adapted to form an opening in a container when pressed through the lid thereof to establish communication between the interior of the container and said passage. 7

E. A pouring spout and container opener comprising a body having an open bottom, an interior wall dividing said open bottom into a liquid discharge chamber and an air inlet chamber; said wall having an inclined opening therein, a spout on said body having an inclined passage therein merging with said inclined opening in said wall; said passage communicating with the atmosphere at one end thereof and communicating at its other end not only with said liquid discharge chamber but-also with said air inlet chamber through said inclined opening, and a container puncturing member depending from said wall.

3.. A pouring spout and container opener comprising a body having an open bottom and hav-- ing a single passage communicating with the atmosphere, an interior wall in said body dividing said open bottom into a liquid discharge chamber and an air inlet chamber; said wall having an opening therethrough, and a baiiie extending from said wall below said opening into said passage to divide said passage and to afford an air path leading through said opening to said air inlet chamber as well as a liquid path leading to the open bottom of the body.

RUDOLF A. CASPER. 

